India hopes to act as a reliable sourcing partner for Asean. There are huge opportunities for collaboration between India and Asean in capacity building, sharing of knowledge and technology, and mutual assistance in education, research and development.
As India is the largest producer of cotton and jute, and the second largest producer of man-made fiber, enhancing digital and infrastructure connectivity with Asean countries is a possibility for India.
Asean is India's fourth largest trading partner. In 2016 India's exports of textiles and apparels to Asean was 1203 million dollars. Exports of textiles and apparels to Asean comprise three per cent of India's total exports to the world.
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
India and Asean observe 25 years of dialogue partnership, 15 years of summit level interaction and five years of strategic partnership in 2017. A consensus on finalising the proposed protocol of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Motor Vehicle Agreement has been reached. This agreement will have a critical role in realizing seamless movement of passenger, personal and cargo vehicles along roads linking India, Myanmar and Thailand.
Issues related to increasing maritime and air connectivity between Asean and India and transforming the corridors of connectivity into economic corridors are under discussion.
